Wall mounting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A wall mounting apparatus and a method of manufacturing portions thereof. The wall mounting apparatus includes an article having a rear surface with at least one recess, a mounting component having a front surface with a mounting channel, a rear surface, and a peripheral surface, and a mounting bracket. The mounting component is positioned in the recess of the article with the rear surface of the mounting component facing the floor of the recess and bonded to the article with a bonding agent disposed between the peripheral surface of the mounting component and the sidewall of the recess of the article. The article is mounted to the wall via sliding engagement between the article and the mounting bracket while the mounting bracket is mounted to the wall and at least partially located within the mounting channel of the mounting component.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/321,964, filed Mar. 21, 2022,and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/396,304, filed Aug.9, 2022, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Shelves, ledges, and other wall-mountable articles are often hung withininterior spaces to alter the décor of a room and to provide function inaddition to the aesthetics. Floating shelves made out of wood or similarmaterials are made with holes on their rear surfaces for receiving postsprotruding from wall-mounted brackets. As such, the wall-mountedbrackets are hidden from the user's view behind and within the shelf.However, such techniques are not always effective for hanging shelves orledges made from other materials, such as brittle materials. Moreover,such techniques may result in the shelf being mounted unevenly both interms of the orientation of the support surface of the shelf and theflush engagement between the rear of the shelf and the wall. Thus, aneed exists for a wall mounting apparatus and related methods that allowfor shelves, ledges, and other wall-mountable articles, including thosemade from brittle materials, to be hung from a wall in a simple,effective, and robust manner.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a wall mounting apparatus and amethod of manufacturing portions thereof. The wall mounting apparatusincludes an article having a rear surface with at least one recess, amounting component having a front surface with a mounting channel, arear surface, a peripheral surface, and a flange protruding from theperipheral surface, and a mounting bracket. The mounting component ispositioned in the recess of the article with the rear surface of themounting component facing the floor of the recess and bonded to thearticle with a bonding agent disposed between the peripheral surface ofthe mounting component and the sidewall of the recess of the article.The article is mounted to the wall via sliding engagement between thearticle and the mounting bracket while the mounting bracket is mountedto the wall and at least partially located within the mounting channelof the mounting component.

In one aspect, the invention may be a wall mounting apparatuscomprising: an article comprising a rear surface having at least onerecess defined by a floor and a sidewall that extends from the floor tothe rear surface; a mounting component comprising a front surface havinga mounting channel, a rear surface, a peripheral surface extendingbetween the front and rear surfaces, and a flange protruding from theperipheral surface; and a mounting bracket configured to be mounted to awall; wherein the mounting component is positioned in the recess of thearticle with the rear surface of the mounting component facing the floorof the recess, and wherein the mounting component is bonded to thearticle with a bonding agent disposed between the peripheral surface ofthe mounting component and the sidewall of the recess of the article;and wherein the article is mounted to the wall via sliding engagementbetween the article and the mounting bracket while the mounting bracketis mounted to the wall and at least partially located within themounting channel of the mounting component.

In another aspect, the invention may be a method of manufacturing awall-mountable assembly that is configured to engage a mounting bracketthat is mounted to a wall to mount the wall-mountable assembly to thewall, the method comprising: manufacturing an article comprising a rearsurface having at least one recess defined by a floor and a sidewall;manufacturing a mounting component comprising a front surface having amounting channel, a rear surface, a peripheral surface, and a flangeprotruding from the peripheral surface; positioning the mountingcomponent within the recess of the article so that the rear surface ofthe mounting component is in contact with the floor of the recess andthe peripheral surface of the mounting component is spaced apart fromthe sidewall of the recess by a gap; introducing a bonding agent intothe gap between the peripheral surface of the mounting component and thesidewall of the recess so that the flange of the mounting component islocated between the bonding agent and the floor of the recess; andallowing the bonding agent to cure to fixedly couple the mountingcomponent to the article and form the wall-mountable assembly.

In yet another aspect, the invention may be a wall mounting apparatuscomprising: a wall-mountable assembly comprising: an article formed froma brittle material and comprising a rear surface having at least onerecess defined by a floor and a sidewall that extends from the floor tothe rear surface; a mounting component formed from a metal or a plasticand comprising a front surface having a mounting channel, a rearsurface, a peripheral surface extending between the front and rearsurfaces, and a flange protruding from the peripheral surface, whereinthe mounting component is positioned within the recess of the article sothat the rear surface of the mounting component abuts the floor of therecess of the article and a gap exists between the peripheral surface ofthe mounting component and the sidewall of the recess of the article;and a bonding agent disposed within the gap between the peripheralsurface of the mounting component and the sidewall of the recess of thearticle to fixedly couple the mounting component to the article; amounting bracket configured to be mounted to a wall; and wherein thewall-mountable assembly is mounted to the mounting bracket via slidingengagement between the mounting bracket and the mounting component whilethe mounting bracket is at least partially located within the mountingchannel of the mounting component.

In still another aspect, the invention may be an apparatus for mountingan article to a support surface, the apparatus comprising: a mountingbracket comprising a front surface, a rear surface, a bottom end, a topend, a first side surface extending at least partially between the topand bottom ends, and a second side surface extending at least partiallybetween the top and bottom ends, the first and second side surfacesbeing angled so as to converge towards one another moving in a directionfrom the bottom end of the mounting bracket towards the top end of themounting bracket, and the first side surface comprising a firstengagement portion and the second side surface comprising a secondengagement portion, the first and second engagement portions beingbeveled so as to slope outwardly moving in a direction from the rearsurface of the mounting bracket towards the front surface of themounting bracket, wherein the mounting bracket is configured to becoupled to a support surface with the rear surface of the mountingbracket facing the support surface; a mounting component comprising afront surface, a rear surface, a bottom end, a top end, and a mountingchannel in the front surface, the mounting channel having a longitudinalaxis and being at least partially bounded by a sidewall, the sidewallcomprising a first sidewall portion located on a first side of thelongitudinal axis and a second sidewall portion located on a second sideof the longitudinal axis, the first and second sidewall portions beingangled so as to converge towards one another moving in a direction fromthe bottom end of the mounting component towards the top end of themounting component, and the first and second sidewall portions slopingin a direction away from the longitudinal axis moving from the frontsurface of the mounting component to the rear surface of the mountingcomponent; and wherein the mounting bracket is configured to be coupledto the mounting component with the mounting bracket at least partiallypositioned within the mounting channel of the mounting component and thefirst and second engagement portions of the first and second sidesurfaces of the mounting bracket engaged with the first and secondsidewall portions of the mounting component.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a wall mounting apparatus inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a wall-mountable assembly of the wallmounting apparatus of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a mounting component of the wallmounting apparatus of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3B is a front view of the mounting component of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C is a rear view of the mounting component of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIID-IIID of FIG. 3B;

FIG. 3E is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIIE-IIIE of FIG. 3B;

FIG. 3F is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIIF-IIIF of FIG. 3B;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the wall-mountable assembly ofFIG. 2 including an article, a first one of the mounting components ofFIG. 3A coupled to the article, and a second one of the mountingcomponents of FIG. 3A positioned adjacent to the article in preparationfor being coupled thereto;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view illustrating the second one of themounting elements from FIG. 4 being coupled to the article with abonding agent;

FIG. 5B is a perspective view illustrating the first and second ones ofthe mounting elements coupled to the article;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5B;

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a mounting bracket of the wall mountingapparatus of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 7B is a rear view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 7C is a front view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 7D is a top view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8A is a perspective view illustrating a one of the mountingbrackets and a second one of the mounting brackets of FIG. 4A positionedadjacent to the first and second ones of the mounting elements of thewall-mountable assembly in preparation for coupling thereto;

FIGS. 8B and 8C illustrate the mounting brackets being slidably coupledto the mounting brackets of the wall-mountable assembly;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 8C;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the wall mounting apparatusmounted to a wall;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI of FIG. 10 ;

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a wall-mountable apparatus in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 13A-13C are perspective views of a mounting component of the wallmounting apparatus of FIG. 12 ;

FIGS. 14A-14D are perspective, front, rear, and top views of a mountingbracket of the wall mounting apparatus of FIG. 12 ;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the wall-mountable apparatus of FIG. 12in an assembled state whereby the mounting components are engaged withthe mounting brackets;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI of FIG. 15 ;

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of a wall mounting apparatus inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVIII-XVIII of FIG.17 ;

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of a wall mounting apparatus inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is an assembled perspective view of the wall mounting apparatusof FIG. 19 ; and

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXI-XXI of FIG. 20 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

The description of illustrative embodiments according to principles ofthe present invention is intended to be read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entirewritten description. In the description of embodiments of the inventiondisclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merelyintended for convenience of description and is not intended in any wayto limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as“lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,”“down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g.,“horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed torefer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawingunder discussion. These relative terms are for convenience ofdescription only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed oroperated in a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated assuch. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,”“interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structuresare secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectlythrough intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigidattachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.Moreover, the features and benefits of the invention are illustrated byreference to the exemplified embodiments. Accordingly, the inventionexpressly should not be limited to such exemplary embodimentsillustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that mayexist alone or in other combinations of features; the scope of theinvention being defined by the claims appended hereto.

The present invention relates generally to articles that are mounted toa wall and serve a functional purpose. The article may be a ledge orshelf which can be mounted to a wall in a bathroom or in any other roomof an interior space without any specific limitation. More specifically,in the exemplified embodiment the article is a floating shelf or ledge,whereby the mounting brackets that facilitate the mounting of the shelfand any fasteners or hardware are hidden from view behind and/or withinthe body of the shelf. Other uses for the inventive techniques describedherein are also possible and may fall within the scope of the claimedinvention. That is, other structures or articles that are aesthetic,functional, or both, may utilize the concepts described herein. Oneexample is the use of the mounting components and techniques describedherein for a mounting a closet system to a wall. Another example may bethe use of the mounting components and techniques for mounting a cabinetto a wall. Modifications may be made to the various components tofacilitate the mounting of other items to walls or other supportstructures (e.g., aesthetic wall or ceiling panels, acoustical wall orceiling panels, artistic works, mirrors, etc.).

As will be described in greater detail below with specific reference tothe figures, the wall mounting apparatus may include an article whichhas both aesthetic features and functional capabilities. For example,the article may be a ledge or shelf having a desired ornamentalappearance and be capable of holding or storing items thereon fordisplay. The article may have a surface ornamentation or design whichcan appeal to consumers aesthetically. The surface ornamentation maytake on many different forms and the specific design of the surfaceornamentation is not to be limiting of the invention described herein.The surface ornamentation may be a solid color, multiple colors, ordesigns including but not limited to designs that are formed from orintended to look like granite, marble, quartz, or the like.

The article of the wall mounting apparatus may be formed, at least inpart, from a brittle material. The term “brittle material” is a term ofart that is well known to and readily understood by persons of ordinaryskill in the art. In particular, a brittle material is a material whichhas a low ductility and a high hardness value such that the materialbreaks without significant deformation when under stress. That is, suchbrittle materials absorb very little, if any, energy before fracture.Brittle materials fail when subjected to stress with little elasticdeformation and without significant plastic deformation. Thus, brittlematerials go from a first state or shape to complete fracture withoutmuch, or in many cases any, deformation. This characteristic allowsbrittle materials to be pieced back together after fracture because theindividual pieces have not plastically deformed. A benefit associatedwith brittle materials is that if an application can be designed for thebrittle material where the brittle material will be subject to appliedstress/pressure that is well under its limits, then the material willnot deform or break, which provides a much more consistent dimensionalperformance (there will be no deformation occurring over time whichcould lead to shape changes and loose hardware). The materials describedherein as being brittle are generally brittle at ambient temperature.

Examples of brittle materials as used herein includes solid surface,glass, concrete, ceramic, cast marble, quartz, graphite, and acrylic. Insome embodiments, the term brittle material may specifically excludewood and metal. Materials such as concrete are composite materials thathave two or more constituent materials (e.g., polymer+ceramic; ceramic1+ceramic 2, cement+sand aggregate). In some embodiments, the brittlematerial may be solid surface material. One major benefit of utilizingsolid surface material is that the colors and color combinations thatcan be used are infinite. Solid surface material can be made in solidcolors, mixed colors, and any design imaginable. Solid surface materialcan mimic the appearance of granite, marble, stone, and other naturallyoccurring materials. Thus, using solid surface material forwall-mountable articles enables transformation of an interior space inaccordance with a designer's preferences and desires. However, due tothe brittle nature of solid surface material (and the other brittlematerials mentioned herein), such solid surface material (and otherbrittle material) accessories that are intended to be mounted on a wallor otherwise must interact with other components in certain ways asdescribed herein in order to prevent failure. The invention describedherein utilizes brittle materials such as solid surface material in waysnot previously considered by understanding the properties andcharacteristics of the brittle materials and supporting them orinterfacing them with other components of the same or different materialin specific ways.

Solid surface material is a man-made material formed from aluminatrihydrate, acrylic, epoxy or polyester resins, and pigments. Solidsurface material is non-porous which lends itself nicely to being usefulin many applications, including in commercial kitchens and the like.

Other materials may be used for the article in other embodiments. In anembodiment, the article may be made from metal, such as stainless steel.In an embodiment, the article may be made from wood. Thus, while thetechniques and mounting components described herein may be designed foruse with brittle materials, they may also be capable of use withnon-brittle materials such as those mentioned herein.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a wall mounting apparatus 1000 is illustrated inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The wallmounting apparatus 1000 may comprise a wall-mountable assembly 100 andat least one mounting bracket 400. In the exemplified embodiment, thereare two of the mounting brackets 400, although the invention is not tobe so limited and there may be a single mounting bracket 400 or morethan two mounting brackets 400 in other embodiments. The wall-mountableassembly 100 may comprise an article 200 and at least one mountingcomponent 300 that is fixedly coupled to the article 200. The mountingcomponent 300 may be a separate and distinct component from the article200 and may even be formed from a different material than the article200 as discussed below, but the mounting component 300 is fixedlycoupled to the article 200 to form the wall-mountable assembly 100 whichis mounted to the mounting bracket 300 which is in turn mounted on amounting surface such as a wall.

In the exemplified embodiment, there are two of the mounting components300. However, the invention is not to be so limited and there may be asingle mounting component 300 or more than two mounting components 300in other embodiments. The number of the mounting brackets 400 may be thesame as the number of the mounting components 300 in some embodiments.In some embodiments, the mounting component 300 and the mounting bracket400 may be referred to collectively as a mounting system because themounting component 300 and the mounting bracket 400 interact with oneanother to mount or hang the article 200 from a surface such as a wall.Specifically, the mounting bracket 400 may first be mounted to amounting surface such as a wall, and then the mounting components 300 ofthe wall-mountable assembly 100 may be brought into slidable engagementwith the mounting brackets 400 to mount the wall-mountable assembly 100to the mounting brackets 400, and hence also to the mounting surface.

Also depicted in FIG. 1 are a pair of fasteners 500. Each of thefasteners 500 may be configured to couple one of the mounting brackets400 to a mounting surface, which may be a wall within an interior space.However, the mounting surface may be other surfaces, such as the outersurface of a cabinet or the like. In the exemplified embodiment, each ofthe fasteners 500 comprises a threaded screw member 501 and a fastenermember 502 which is threadedly coupled to the threaded screw member 501.The fastener member 502 may be configured to engage a rear surface ofthe wall or other mounting surface to which the wall mounting apparatus100 is mounted to ensure that the attachment of the wall-mountableassembly 100 to the mounting surface is strong and secure. However, theinvention is not limited to this in all embodiments and other structurescan be used to ensure a secure attachment, such as screws and anchors.That is, the fasteners 500 may comprise a screw alone, a screw incombination with an anchor, a screw 501 in combination with the fastenermember 502 as shown, or any other fastener-type member which is designedand configured to securely couple an item or article to a mountingsurface such as a wall. The threaded screw member 501 may be passedthrough a through-hole in the mounting bracket 400 to mount the mountingbracket 400 to a mounting surface, as will be described in greaterdetail below with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 .

Referring to FIG. 2 , the wall-mountable assembly 100 will be describedin greater detail. As noted above, the wall-mountable assembly 100 maycomprise the article 200 and at least one of the mounting components300, which may be separate components (i.e., the mounting components 300may not be integrally formed with the article 200, but may be coupledthereto as described herein to form the wall-mountable assembly 100). Inthe exemplified embodiment, the article 200 is a shelf or a ledge.However, the invention is not to be so limited in all embodiments andthe article 200 may take on other forms, such as being other décor itemsconfigured for hanging on a wall, such as a cabinet, a bathroomaccessory, a frame, or the like. The article 200 may be formed from abrittle material, as defined above. In some embodiments, the brittlematerial may be a solid surface material as that allows the article 200to be formed in essentially infinite colors and design configurations.The brittle material may be other materials such as those noted above.

The article 200 comprises a rear surface 201 that is configured to abutagainst the mounting surface or wall when the article 200 is mountedthereon. In the exemplified embodiment whereby the article 200 is ashelf, the article 200 comprises an apron portion 202 comprising therear surface 201 and a front surface 203 and a ledge portion 204protruding from the front surface 203 of the apron portion 202. Theledge portion 204 protrudes from the apron portion 202 along a top edgeof the apron portion 202 in the exemplified embodiment, but the ledgeportion 204 may protrude from the apron portion 202 at other locations,including along the bottom edge of the apron portion 202 or in the spacebetween the top and bottom edges of the apron portion 202. The ledge andapron portions 204, 202 may have the same height in some embodiments sothat the article 200 is a linear structure rather than an L-shapedstructure. The ledge portion 204 may protrude horizontally from themounting surface or wall when the article 200 is mounted on the mountingsurface. A top surface of the ledge portion 204 may be capable of havingitems stored thereon for display and/or storage. The article 200 mayinclude a perimeter wall along a periphery of the ledge portion 204 toprevent items stored thereon from rolling or otherwise falling off,although this is not required in all embodiments. Additional featuresmay be added to the article 200, such as, for example withoutlimitation, hooks for hanging coats, hats, bags, or the like, racks forholding towels, and drawers for item storage. Moreover, the article 200may take on other forms as noted above and the invention is not limitedto the article 200 being a shelf in all embodiments.

The article 200 may comprise at least one recess 210 in the rear surface201 (which is configured to abut against the mounting surface/wall asnoted above). In the exemplified embodiment, there are two of therecesses 210. However, there may just be one of the recesses 210 andthere may be more than two of the recesses 210 in other embodiments. Thelength, weight, and other characteristics of the article 200 may dictatehow many of the recesses 210 are included, since each of the recesses210 is configured to be associated with one of the mounting components300, as shown in FIG. 1 and described in more detail below. Thus, thegreater the length and/or weight of the article 200, the more recesses210, mounting components 300 and mounting brackets 400 may be needed toadequately support the article 200 on the mounting surface or wall. Eachof the recesses 210 may comprise a floor 211 that is recessed relativeto the rear surface 201 of the article 200 and a sidewall 212 thatextends from the floor 211 to the rear surface 201. Each of the recesses210 is illustrated as being square or rectangular with rounded cornersin the exemplified embodiment. However, other shapes for the recesses210 are possible in other embodiments. The shape of the recesses 210 maygenerally correspond with the shape of the mounting components 300 thatare intended to be received within the recesses 210. Moreover, while inthe exemplified embodiment the two recesses 210 have an identical sizeand shape, the invention is not limited to this in all embodiments andthe recesses 210 may have different shapes and/or different sizes inother embodiments. The depth of the recesses 210 measured from the rearsurface 201 of the article 200 to the floor 211 of the recess 210 mayalso generally correspond to the thickness of the mounting components300 in some embodiments.

In FIG. 2 , the mounting components 300 are illustrated separate fromthe article 200 because the mounting components 300 are separate anddistinct components from the article 200 as noted above. The mountingcomponents 300 are configured to be fixedly coupled to the article 200within the recesses 210 to form the wall-mountable assembly 100. Asnoted above, in some embodiments the article 200 may be formed from abrittle material such as a solid surface material. Thus, the mountingcomponent 300 may not be able to be coupled to the article 200 with afastener such as a screw, and nor may it be possible or advisable tobuild the mounting channel directly into the brittle material of thearticle 200. One or more exemplary techniques for attaching the mountingcomponents 300 to the article 200 will be described below with referenceto FIGS. 4-6 .

Referring to FIGS. 3A-3C, the mounting component 300 will be described.The mounting component 300 may be formed from metal or plastic(hard/rigid plastic) in some embodiments. In one embodiment, themounting component 300 may be formed from aluminum. However, theinvention is not to be so limited in all embodiments and the mountingcomponent 300 may be formed from other materials in other embodiments.Because the mounting component 300 is configured to engage with themounting bracket 400, it may be preferable to form the mountingcomponent 300 from a material which is suitable for such engagementwithout the potential for breakage or other failure. Thus, metal orplastic may be a preferred material for the mounting component 300 insome embodiments. The mounting component 300 may be rectangular orsquare in shape with rounded corners as shown, or it may have othershapes. As mentioned above, the shape of the mounting component 300 maycorrespond with the shape of the recess 210 in the rear surface 201 ofthe article 200 within which the mounting component 300 is positionedwhen fixedly coupled to the article 200.

The mounting component 300 comprises a front surface 301, a rear surface302, and a peripheral surface 303 extending between the front and rearsurfaces 301, 302. The mounting component 300 may comprise a flange 304protruding from the peripheral surface 303. The flange 304 may protrudefrom the peripheral surface 303 at a location or position that isadjacent to the rear surface 302. In particular, the flange 304 maycomprise a rear surface 305 and a front surface 306 that is opposite therear surface 305. The rear surface 305 of the flange 304 may be flushwith the rear surface 302 of the mounting component 300 such that therear surface 302 of the mounting component 300 and the rear surface 305of the flange 304 forms a seamless, continuous, flat, planar surface.The flange 304 may protrude radially outward from the peripheral surface303. In the exemplified embodiment, the flange 304 is a continuousannular flange that protrudes radially outward along an entirety of theperipheral surface 303. However, the invention is not to be so limitedin all embodiments and the flange 304 may be discontinuous in otherembodiments or may extend along only parts of the peripheral surface 303but not the entirety of the peripheral surface 303. That is, the flange304 may comprise flange segments that are spaced apart from one another,or the flange 304 may be formed by a plurality of discrete tabs thatprotrude from the peripheral surface 303. The front surface 306 of theflange 304 may form a ledge that extends or protrudes from theperipheral surface 303 of the mounting component 300 which is visiblefrom the front surface 301 of the mounting component 300. The flange 304may terminate in a distal surface or distal edge 307 that is positionedradially outward relative to the peripheral surface 303 of the mountingcomponent 300.

The mounting component 300 has a first thickness measured between thefront and rear surfaces 301, 302 of the mounting component 300. Theflange 304 has a second thickness measured between the front and rearsurfaces 305, 306 of the flange 304. The second thickness is less thanthe first thickness. The second thickness may be less than one third ofthe first thickness in some embodiments.

The mounting component 300 also comprises a mounting channel (ormounting recess) 310 that is formed into the front surface 301 of themounting component 300. The mounting channel 310 may be a recess that isformed into the front surface 301 of the mounting component 300. Themounting channel 310 may be defined by a floor 311 that is recessedrelative to the front surface 301 of the mounting component 300 and asidewall 312 that extends from the floor 311 to the front surface 301 ofthe mounting component 300. In other embodiments, the mounting channel310 may not comprise a floor, and in such embodiments the mountingchannel 310 may be a through-hole or aperture in the mounting component300 which extends from the front surface 301 to the rear surface 302. Insuch embodiments, the mounting channel 310 may be defined solely by thesidewall 312 which may extend the full depth between the front and rearsurfaces 301, 302.

The mounting channel 310 comprises a bottom edge 308 and a top edge 309.The mounting channel 310 comprises a longitudinal axis A-A extending ina direction between the bottom and top edges 308, 309. Furthermore, themounting channel 310 may comprise an insertion region 313 at which themounting bracket 400 is received within the mounting channel 310 and anesting region 314 at which the mounting bracket 400 is coupled orlocked to the mounting component 300. The insertion region 313 may belocated adjacent to the bottom edge 308 of the mounting channel 310 andthe nesting region 314 may be located adjacent to the top edge 309 ofthe mounting channel 310.

The sidewall 312 defining the mounting channel 310 comprises a firstportion 315 located on a first side of the longitudinal axis A-A and asecond portion 316 located on a second side of the longitudinal axisA-A. Along the insertion region 313 and the nesting region 314 of themounting channel 310, the first and second portions 315, 316 of thesidewall 312 may be angled inwardly towards the longitudinal axis A-A asthey extend in a generally axial direction moving from the bottom edge308 of the mounting channel 310 towards the top edge 309 of the mountingchannel 309. Moreover, the first and second portions 315, 316 of thesidewall 312 may be oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-Ain a transition region between the insertion and nesting regions 313,314. Thus, the width W1 of the mounting channel 310 decreases movingfrom the bottom edge 308 towards the top edge 309 to create a tight fitbetween the mounting channel 310 and the mounting bracket 400 duringslidable coupling.

Referring to FIG. 3B in conjunction with FIGS. 3D-3F, the configurationof the first and second portions 315, 316 of the sidewall 312 will bedescribed. FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional view taken through the first andsecond portions 315, 316 of the sidewall 312 along the insertion region313 of the mounting channel 310. In this location, the first and secondportions 315, 316 of the sidewall 312 may extend in a vertical directionthat is perpendicular to the front and rear surfaces 301, 302 of themounting component 300 along the insertion portion 313 of the mountingchannel 310. FIG. 3E is a cross-sectional view taken through the firstand second portions 315, 316 of the sidewall 312 along the nestingregion 313 of the mounting channel 310. In this location, the first andsecond portions 315, 316 of the sidewall 312 may be angled inwardlytowards the longitudinal axis A-A moving in a direction from the floor311 of the mounting channel 310 (or the rear surface 302 of the mountingcomponent 300) towards the front surface 301 of the mounting component300. This causes the mounting channel 310 to have a dovetail shapewithin the nesting region 314 of the mounting channel 310. This mayfacilitate the creation of an interlock between the mounting component300 and the mounting bracket 400 as the mounting bracket 400 slidesupwardly within the mounting channel 310 from the insertion region 313to the nesting region 314 as described further below. Finally, FIG. 3Fis a cross-sectional view taken through the first and second portions315, 316 of the sidewall 312 along a top region of the mounting channel310. In this location, the first and second portions 315, 316 of thesidewall 312 may comprise a vertical portion that extends from the floor311 to a transition region and an angled portion that extends from thetransition region to the front surface 301 of the mounting component300.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6 , the coupling of the mounting components 300 tothe article 200 to form the wall-mountable assembly 100 will bedescribed. FIG. 4 illustrates the article 200 with one of the mountingcomponents 300 nesting within one of the recesses 210 and another one ofthe mounting components 300 positioned adjacent to the other one of therecesses 210 in the rear surface 201 of the article 200. As noted above,the mounting component 300 may have a shape which corresponds to theshape of the recess 210 to enable the mounting component 300 to fitwithin the recess 210 in the rear surface 201 of the article 200. Thus,the next step in the manufacturing process is to position the mountingcomponent 300 that is not currently within one of the recesses 210 intothe recess 210. In particular, the mounting component 300 may beinserted into the recess 210 with the rear surface 302 of the mountingcomponent 300 facing the floor 211 of the recess 210. The mountingcomponent 300 may be moved towards the floor 211 of the recess 210 untilthe rear surface 302 of the mounting component 300 is in contact withthe floor 211 of the recess 210.

FIG. 6 illustrates the positioning of the mounting component 300 withinthe recess 210 of the article 200. That is, FIG. 6 illustrates the rearsurface 302 of the mounting component 300 in abutting contact with thefloor 211 of the recess 210. The length and width of the recess 210 issufficiently large to enable the entirety of the mounting component 300,including the flange 304, thereof to fit therein. That is, the mountingcomponent 300 has a length and a width measured at the distal edge 307of the flange 304 and the recess 210 has a length and a width, thelength and width of the recess 210 being equal to or greater than thelength and width of the mounting component 300 to ensure that themounting component 300 can fit within the recess 210. In the exemplifiedembodiment, the distal ends 307 of the flange 304 are either in abuttingcontact with or immediately adjacent to the sidewall 212 of the recess210 with only a small gap (i.e., 0.1-1 mm) for tolerance. The distalends 307 of the flange 304 may be spaced further from the sidewall 212of the recess 210 in other embodiments. As discussed below, if such aspace exists it would be filled with a bonding agent during the nextsteps of the wall-mountable assembly manufacturing process, and thus theexact dimensions of any space or gap between the distal end 307 of theflange 304 and the inner surface 212 of the sidewall 210 is not limitingof the invention in all embodiments.

Still referring to FIG. 6 , as noted above the flange 304 protrudesradially outward (i.e., away from a centerpoint of the mountingcomponent 300) from the peripheral surface 303 of the mounting component300. When the mounting component 300 is positioned within one of therecesses 210 in the rear surface 201 of the article 200, the peripheralsurface 303 of the mounting component 300 is positioned inward of thedistal edge 307 of the flange 304. Thus, a gap 320 exists between theperipheral surface 303 of the mounting component 300 and the sidewall212 of the recess 210. In the exemplified embodiment, the gap 320extends around an entire circumference of the mounting component 300(the circumference being defined by the peripheral surface 303).However, the gap 320 may extend along a portion of, but not the entiretyof, the circumference of the mounting component 300 in otherembodiments. The gap 320 extends from the front surface 306 of theflange 304 to the front surface 301 of the mounting component 300. Thus,after the mounting component 300 is positioned within the recess 210 inthe rear surface 201 of the article 200, the gap 320 is visible/exposed.

Once the mounting component 300 is positioned within the recess 210,steps may be taken to secure or fixedly couple the mounting component300 to the article 200 within the recess 210. That is, the simple actionof positioning the mounting component 300 into the recess 210 may notsecurely couple the mounting component 300 to the article 200, and themounting component 300 could be easily removed from the recess 210 by auser applying a pulling force onto the mounting component 300 relativeto the article or manipulating the article 200 so that its rear surface201 faces downwardly which would cause the mounting component 300 tofall out of the recess 210 via gravity. There could be a tight fitbetween the mounting component 300 and the sidewall 212 of the recess210 which could prevent the gravity-driven detachment, but such a tightfit engagement is still likely insufficient for a secure couplingbetween the mounting component 300 and the article 200.

Thus, referring to FIGS. 5A-6 , the next step in the process ofmanufacturing the wall-mountable assembly 100 is to introduce a bondingagent 350 into the gap 320 between the peripheral surface 303 of themounting component 300 and the sidewall 212 of the recess 210. Thebonding agent 350 may be introduced into the gap 320 until the bondingagent 350 substantially fills the entirety of the gap 320. Thus, thebonding agent 350 may contact the front surface 306 of the flange 304 ofthe mounting component 300 and may extend within the gap 320 so as to beflush with the rear surface 201 of the article 200. However, the bondingagent 350 may not extend all the way to the rear surface 201 of thearticle 200 in all embodiments and may instead simply fill in a part ofthe depth of the gap 320. The bonding agent 350 may be introduced intothe entirety of the gap 320 whether it fills the full depth of the gap320 or not.

The bonding agent 350 may be an adhesive composition that is configuredto bond to at least one of the sidewall 212 of the recess 210 of thearticle 200, the front surface 306 of the flange 304 of the mountingcomponent 300, and the peripheral surface 303 of the mounting component300. In one embodiment, the bonding agent 350 may bond to the sidewall212 of the recess 210, thereby trapping or sandwiching the flange 304 ofthe mounting component 300 between the bonding agent 350 and the floor211 of the recess 210 of the article 200. The bonding agent 350 mayspecifically bond to any one of the surfaces noted above or to all ofthe surfaces noted above.

The bonding agent 350 may be an epoxy adhesive, and more specifically areactive epoxy adhesive. The bonding agent 350 may be a two-part epoxyadhesive which comprises a resin and a hardener. The bonding agent 350may be a methacrylate adhesive such as a methyl methacrylate adhesive insome embodiments. Such an adhesive has good bonding qualities for solidsurface, granite, engineered stone, quartz, ceramic, natural stone, andthe like. An example of a bonding agent or reactive adhesive that may beused in accordance with the invention set forth herein is ComponentBonder by Integra Adhesives®, which is a quick drying acrylic structuraladhesive. A polyester resin and hardener two-part epoxy may also beused. The reactive adhesive or epoxy adhesive described throughout thisdisclosure may cure as a structural thermoplastic. Moreover, the brittlematerials described herein (e.g., the solid surface materials or thelike) may also cure as a structural thermoplastic. This may lend itselfto ensuring a very strong bond when two components are adhered togetherusing the reactive or epoxy adhesive. The term bonding agent 350 mayinclude epoxy adhesives, but may not be so limited in all embodimentsand may include other adhesive compositions

After the bonding agent 350 is deposited or introduced into the gap 320,the bonding agent 350 is allowed to dry and cure. During the curingprocess, the bonding agent 350 bonds to at least one (and potentiallyall) of the sidewall 212 of the recess 210, the flange 304 of themounting component 300, and the peripheral surface 303 of the mountingcomponent 300. Thus, once the bonding agent 350 has cured, the mountingcomponent 300 is fixedly coupled to the article 200 within the recess210. The mounting component 300 at this point cannot be separated fromthe article 200 without breaking and/or removing the cured bonding agent350 from the gap 320. The bond is sufficiently strong to withstand agreat deal of force as it will maintain the mounting component 300coupled to the article 200 while the wall-mountable assembly 100 ismounted to the mounting bracket 400 and supporting a load.

In the exemplified embodiment, the bonding agent 350 is located only inthe gap 320 between the peripheral surface 303 of the mounting component300 and the sidewall 212 of the recess 210 of the article 200. Thus,there may be no bonding agent of any kind (no adhesive or othercomposition or substance intended to bond or adhere components together)located between the rear surface 302 of the mounting component 300(including the rear surface 305 of the flange 304) and the floor 211 ofthe recess 210 of the article 200. This ensures that the mountingcomponent 300 is appropriately positioned within the recess 210 becauseany adhesive or other bonding agent between the rear surface 302 of themounting component 300 and the floor 211 of the recess 210 could resultin inconsistencies. Nonetheless, in some embodiments there may be abonding agent, adhesive, or the like positioned between the rear surface302 of the mounting component 300 and the floor 211 of the recess 210,although this is generally not necessary because the bonding agent 350in the gap 320 is sufficient to securely and fixedly couple the mountingcomponent 300 to the article 200 to form the wall-mountable assembly100. It may also be possible to attach the mounting component 300 to thearticle 200 with a fastener such as a screw or the like, although thismay not be possible or effective depending on the material of thearticle 200.

Referring to FIGS. 7A-7D, the mounting bracket 400 will be described.The mounting bracket 400 comprises a front surface 401 and a rearsurface 402 opposite the front surface 401. The mounting bracket 400 isconfigured to be mounted or otherwise coupled to a mounting surface suchas a wall with the rear surface 402 facing and abutting the mountingsurface or wall. The mounting bracket 400 further comprises athrough-hole 403 that extends through the thickness of the mountingbracket 400 from the front surface 401 to the rear surface 402. Thethrough-hole 403 is configured to receive a fastener, such as thefastener 500, or the threaded screw 501 thereof, to facilitate thecoupling of the mounting bracket 400 to the mounting surface or wall. Inthe exemplified embodiment, the mounting bracket 400 comprises a recessregion 409 formed into the rear surface 402. The recess region 409 maybe omitted in other embodiments

The mounting bracket 400 further comprises a bottom surface 404 and atop surface 405. The mounting bracket 400 comprises a longitudinal axisB-B that extends in the direction between the bottom and top surfaces404, 405. The mounting bracket 400 may comprise a first engagementsurface 410 located on a first side of the longitudinal axis B-B and asecond engagement surface 420 located on a second side of thelongitudinal axis B-B. Each of the first and second engagement surfaces410, 420 extends between the bottom and top surfaces 404, 405 and faceoutwardly in a direction away from the longitudinal axis B-B. Theengagement surfaces 410, 420 may form the lateral side surfaces of themounting bracket 400.

In the exemplified embodiment, the first and second engagement surfaces410, 420 are angled inwardly towards the longitudinal axis moving in adirection from the front surface 401 towards the rear surface 402. Thisfacilitates the mating engagement between the first and secondengagement surfaces 410, 420 of the mounting bracket 400 and the firstand second portions 315, 316 of the sidewall 312 of the mounting channel310 of the mounting component 300, as described below with reference toFIG. 9 . Furthermore, as best seen in FIG. 7D, in the exemplifiedembodiment a slope of the first and second engagement surfaces 410, 420may increase moving in a direction from the top surface 405 of themounting bracket 400 to the bottom surface 404 of the mounting bracket400. This may facilitate a wedging of the mounting bracket 400 withinthe mounting channel 310 of the mounting component 300 as the mountingbracket 400 slides upwardly from the insertion region 313 of themounting channel 310 to the nesting region 314 of the mounting channel310. That is, the engagement between the mounting bracket 400 and themounting component 300 becomes tighter as the mounting bracket 400slides further upwardly within the mounting channel 310 of the mountingcomponent 300. In some embodiments, the slope of the first and secondengagement surfaces 410, 420 may be constant and uniform (i.e., theslope may not increase or decrease at all). In an embodiment, thecombination of the first and second engagement surfaces 410, 420 beingangled between the bottom and top surfaces 404, 405 and being angledbetween the front and rear surfaces 401, 402 achieves the desired tightfit to the mounting components 300 during installation.

In an exemplified embodiment, the first and second engagement surfaces410, 420 may have a first slope measured at the top surface 405 and asecond slope measured at the bottom surface 404, the second slope beinggreater than the first slope. Furthermore, the slope of the first andsecond engagement surfaces 410, 420 may continually and graduallyincrease moving from the top surface 405 to the bottom surface 404 ofthe mounting bracket 400. The slope is measured as the incline of thefirst and second engagement surfaces 410, 420 moving in a direction fromthe rear surface 402 of the mounting bracket 400 to the front surface401 of the mounting bracket 400. The slope of the first and secondengagement surfaces 410, 420 may be positive from the top end 405 to thebottom end 404, but greater at the bottom end 404 than at the top end405 as noted herein. And to repeat, the slope of the first and secondengagement surfaces 410, 420 may be constant in some embodiments.

FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate the mounting of the wall-mountable assembly 100to the mounting bracket 400. In these views, the mounting surface (orwall) is not depicted, but it should be appreciated that the portions ofthe fasteners 500 which protrude from the rear surface 402 of themounting bracket 400 would be embedded within the mounting surface orwall and the rear surface 402 of the mounting bracket 400 (at least anyportions that are not recessed) would be in abutting contact with theouter surface of the mounting surface or wall. In FIG. 8A, thewall-mountable assembly 100 is positioned with the rear surface 202 ofthe article 200 and hence also the mounting components 300 coupledthereto positioned adjacent to the mounting brackets 400 which aremounted to a mounting surface or wall (although the mounting surface orwall is not shown in these views, as noted above). Next, as shown inFIG. 8B, the wall-mountable assembly 100 is moved towards the mountingbrackets 400 until each of the mounting brackets 400 nests within theinsertion region 313 of the mounting channel 310 of one of the mountingcomponents 310 which was previously coupled to the article 200.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 8C, the wall-mountable assembly 100 istranslated downwardly relative to the mounting brackets 400. Thisresults in the mounting components 300 sliding relative to the mountingbrackets 400 for a slidable engagement between the mounting components300 and the mounting brackets 400. This downward translation (orsliding) of the wall-mountable assembly 100 relative to the mountingbrackets 400 causes the mounting brackets 400 to move upwardly withinthe mounting channels 310 from the insertion region 313 thereof to thenesting region 314 thereof. Of course, the mounting brackets 400 aremounted to the mounting surface so they do not actually move, but theirmovement is relative to the wall-mountable assembly 100 as thewall-mountable assembly is translated downwardly. As the mountingbrackets 400 slide within the nesting region 314 of the mountingchannels 310, the sidewalls 312 of the mounting channels 310 engage andcontact the first and second engagement surfaces 410, 420 of themounting brackets 400. Moreover, owing to the first and secondengagement surfaces 410 being angled in two directions as noted above(between the top/bottom surfaces and between the front/rear surfaces),the fit between the mounting bracket 400 and the mounting component 300becomes tighter as the mounting brackets 400 slide further upwardlywithin the mounting channels 310.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the engagement of thefirst and second engagement surfaces 410, 420 of the mounting brackets400 with the first and second portions 315, 316 of the sidewall 312 ofthe mounting channel 310 of the mounting components 300 along thenesting region 314 of the mounting channel 310. The engagement surfaces410, 420 of the mounting brackets 400 are in intimate contact with thefirst and second portions 315, 316 of the sidewall 312 of the mountingchannel 310 of the mounting components 300. As can be appreciated, thisprevents the wall-mountable assembly 100 from being able to be detachedfrom the mounting brackets 400 simply by pulling the wall-mountableassembly 100 in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface (i.e.,wall). Rather, the wall-mountable assembly 100 first needs to betranslated upwardly relative to the mounting brackets 400 to move themounting brackets 400 from the nesting regions 314 of the mountingchannels 310 to the insertion regions 313 of the mounting channels 310,and then the wall-mountable assembly 100 can be pulled away from themounting surface or wall.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the wall mounting apparatus 1000 mounted on awall 10. As noted previously, the mounting bracket 400 is mounted to thewall 10 with the fastener 500. In particular, the threaded screw 501 ofthe fastener 500 extends through the through-hole 403 in the mountingbracket 400 and into and through a hole in the wall 10. The fastenermember 502 abuts against the non-exposed rear surface of the wall 10 sothat the wall 10 is compressed or held under compression between thefastener member 502 and the mounting bracket 400. There may also be anut 503 (also depicted in FIG. 1 ) for preventing the threaded screw 501from being pulled through the through-hole 403. Alternatively, thethreaded screw 501 may have a head portion that abuts against the frontsurface 401 of the mounting bracket 400.

As can be appreciated from FIG. 11 , moving the wall-mountable assembly100 which comprises the article 200 and the mounting component 300upwardly will cause the mounting bracket 400 to move downwardly(relative to the wall-mountable assembly 100, the mounting bracket 400is fixed to the wall 10 and will not move relative to the wall 10) fromthe nesting region 314 of the mounting channel 310 to the insertionregion 313 of the mounting channel 310, at which point thewall-mountable assembly 100 can be pulled away from the wall. Moreover,mounting the wall-mountable assembly 100 to the mounting brackets 400which are pre-mounted on the wall 10 with the fasteners 500 may comprisealigning the mounting brackets 400 with the insertion regions 313 of themounting channels 310, moving the wall-mountable assembly 100 towardsthe wall 100 until the mounting brackets 400 are positioned within theinsertion regions 313 of the mounting channels 310, and then moving thewall-mountable assembly 100 downwardly relative to the mounting brackets400 so that the mounting brackets 400 slide from the insertion regions313 of the mounting channels 310 into the nesting regions 314 of themounting channels 310.

Referring to FIGS. 12-16 , a wall mounting apparatus 2000 and variousportions thereof are illustrated in accordance with another embodimentof the present invention. Referring first to FIG. 12 , the wall mountingapparatus 2000 may comprise a wall-mountable assembly 2100 and at leastone mounting bracket 2400. In the exemplified embodiment, there are twoof the mounting brackets 2400, although the invention is not to be solimited and there may be a single mounting bracket 2400 or more than twomounting brackets 2400 in other embodiments. The wall-mountable assembly2100 may comprise an article 2200 and at least one mounting component2300 that is fixedly coupled to the article 2200. The mounting component2300 may be a separate and distinct component from the article 2200 andmay even be formed from a different material than the article 2200 asherein. The mounting component 2300 may be fixedly coupled to thearticle 2200 to form the wall-mountable assembly 2100. The mountingcomponent 2300 may then be mounted to the mounting brackets 2400 tomount the wall-mountable assembly 2100 to a wall.

In the exemplified embodiment, there are two of the mounting components2300. However, the invention is not to be so limited and there may be asingle mounting component 2300 or more than two mounting components 2300in other embodiments. The number of the mounting brackets 2400 may bethe same as the number of the mounting components 2300 in someembodiments. In some embodiments, the mounting component 2300 and themounting bracket 2400 may be referred to collectively as a mountingsystem because the mounting component 2300 and the mounting bracket 2400interact with one another to mount or hang the article 2200 from asurface such as a wall. Specifically, the mounting bracket 2400 mayfirst be mounted to a mounting surface such as a wall, and then themounting components 2300 of the wall-mountable assembly 2100 may bebrought into slidable engagement with the mounting brackets 2400 tomount the wall-mountable assembly 2100 to the mounting brackets 2400,and hence also to the mounting surface.

Also depicted in FIG. 12 are a pair of fasteners 2500. Each of thefasteners 500 may be configured to couple one of the mounting brackets2400 to a mounting surface, which may be a wall within an interiorspace. However, the mounting surface may be other surfaces, such as theouter surface of a cabinet or the like. In the exemplified embodiment,each of the fasteners 500 comprises a threaded screw member 2501 and afastener member 2502 which is threadedly coupled to the threaded screwmember 501. The details of the fastener 500 described above areapplicable to the fastener 2500 and thus additional description of thefastener 2500 will not be provided here in the interest of brevity.

Many features of the wall mounting apparatus 2000 are the same as thefeatures of the wall mounting apparatus 1000 described above. Somemodifications have been made to the mounting bracket 2400 and to themounting component 2300 and those modifications will be described indetail. However, for all other details the description of the wallmounting apparatus 1000 provided above is applicable to the wallmounting apparatus 2000 shown in FIGS. 12-16 . This includesmanufacturing techniques and methods, materials for each of thecomponents, assembly, installation, wall-mounting process and methods,and the like.

The wall-mountable assembly 2100 may comprise the article 2200 and atleast one of the mounting components 2300, which may be separatecomponents (i.e., the mounting components 2300 are not integrally formedwith the article 2200, but may be coupled thereto as described herein toform the wall-mountable assembly 2100). In the exemplified embodiment,the article 2200 is a shelf or a ledge. However, the invention is not tobe so limited in all embodiments and the article 2200 may take on otherforms, such as being other décor items configured for hanging on a wall,such as a cabinet, a bathroom accessory, a frame, a mirror, or the like.The article 2200 may be formed from a brittle material, as definedabove. In some embodiments, the brittle material may be a solid surfacematerial as that allows the article 2200 to be formed in essentiallyinfinite colors and design configurations. The brittle material may beother materials such as those noted above.

The article 2200 may comprise a rear surface 2201 that is configured toabut against the mounting surface (e.g., the wall) when the article 2200is mounted thereon. The article 2200 may comprise at least one recess2210 within which the mounting components 2300 are disposed when themounting components 2300 are coupled to the article 2200. Theexemplified embodiment depicts two recesses 2210 and two of the mountingcomponents 2300, but the invention is not to be limited to the number ofrecesses and mounting components shown in the exemplified embodiment.The mounting components 2300 may be coupled to the article 2200 in thesame manner as described above (e.g., with the use of a bonding agentlike an epoxy adhesive). The description above with regard to the mannerof coupling the mounting components 300 to the article 200 is completelyapplicable to the manner of coupling the mounting components 2300 to thearticle 2200.

The main difference between the wall mounting apparatus 2000 and thewall mounting apparatus 1000 previously described has to do with certainstructural modifications to the mounting brackets 2400 and the mountingcomponents 2300. These structural modifications will be described hereinbelow.

Referring to FIGS. 13A-13C, the mounting components 2300 will bedescribed. The mounting components 2300 may be formed from metal,plastic, or the like as described above with reference to the mountingcomponents 300. The mounting components 2300 comprise a front surface2301, a rear surface 2302, and a peripheral surface 2303 extendingbetween the front and rear surfaces 2301, 2302. In the exemplifiedembodiment, the front and rear surfaces 2301, 2302 are planar andparallel to one another, and the peripheral surface 2303 is beveled sothat it is angled or sloped outwardly moving in a direction from thefront surface 2301 to the rear surface 2302. When the mounting component2300 is positioned within the recess 2210 in the rear surface 2201 ofthe article 2200, a gap exists between the peripheral surface 2303 andthe wall which surrounds the recess 2210. The bonding agent (i.e., epoxyadhesive or the like) may be introduced into the gap between theperipheral surface 2303 of the mounting component 2300 and the wall ofthe recess 2210 of the article 2200 to attach to the mounting component2300 to the article 2200. While the mounting components 2300 do not havea flange as with the prior embodiment of the mounting components 300,the beveled peripheral surface 2303 will facilitate the attachment viathe bonding agent and achieves the same retention function as the flangein the prior embodiment.

The mounting component 2300 may also comprise a mounting channel (ormounting recess) 2310 that is formed into the front surface 2301 of themounting component 2300. The mounting channel 2310 may be a recess thatis formed into the front surface 2301 of the mounting component 2300.The mounting channel 2310 may be defined by a floor 2311 that isrecessed relative to the front surface 2301 of the mounting component2300 and a sidewall 2312 that extends from the floor 2311 to the frontsurface 2301 of the mounting component 2300. In other embodiments, themounting channel 2310 may not comprise a floor, and in such embodimentsthe mounting channel 2310 may be a through-hole or aperture in themounting component 2300 which extends from the front surface 2301 to therear surface 2302. In such embodiments, the mounting channel 2310 may bedefined solely by the sidewall 2312 which may extend the full depthbetween the front and rear surfaces 2301, 2302.

The mounting component 2300 may comprise a bottom edge 2304 and a topedge 2305. The mounting channel 2310 may be open at the bottom edge 2304but may not extend all the way to the top edge 2305. The mountingchannel 2310 may comprise a longitudinal axis C-C extending in adirection between the bottom and top edges 2304, 2305. The sidewall 2312may comprise a first portion 2315 located on a first side of thelongitudinal axis C-C, a second portion 2316 located on a second side ofthe longitudinal axis C-C, and a top portion 2309. The mounting channel2310 may comprise an insertion region 2313 and a nesting region 2314.The insertion region 2313 extends from the bottom end 2304 to atransition location, the transition location being where the width ofthe mounting channel 2310 measured between the first and second portions2315, 2316 of the sidewall 2312 begins to decrease. The nesting region2314 extends from the transition region to a top end of the mountingchannel 2310. Along the insertion region 2313, the sidewall 2312 mayextend perpendicular from the floor 2311 and the first and secondportions 2315, 2316 of the sidewall 2312 may be oriented parallel to oneanother. Along the nesting region 2314, the sidewall 2312 may beoriented at an acute angle relative to the floor 2311. That is, at anygiven location along the first and second portions 2315, 2316 of thesidewall 2312 within the nesting region 2314, the distance between thefirst and second portions 2315, 2316 of the sidewall 2312 increasesmoving from the front surface 2301 of the mounting component 2300towards the rear surface 2302 of the mounting component 2300 (or towardsthe floor 2311). Furthermore, along the nesting region 2314 the firstand second portions 2315, 2316 of the sidewall 2312 may be angled so asto converge towards one another moving in a direction from the insertionregion 2313 towards the top edge 2305. Thus, the first and secondportions 2315, 2316 of the sidewall 2312 may be angled inwardly towardsthe longitudinal axis C-C and may be angled in a direction between thefront and rear surfaces 2301, 2302.

Along the nesting region 2314, the first portion 2315 of the sidewall2312 comprises a first elongated notch 2317 that extends from thetransition location towards the top portion 2309 of the of the sidewall2312 (which defines the top end of the mounting channel 2310). The firstelongated notch 2317 extends between a bottom edge 2318 of the firstportion 2315 of the sidewall 2312 along the nesting region 2314 of themounting channel 2310 and the floor 2311 of the mounting channel 2310.Thus, the bottom edge 2318 of the first portion 2315 of the sidewall2312 along the nesting region 2314 of the mounting channel 2310 may beelevated above the floor 2311 of the mounting channel 2310 to form aspace (i.e., the notch 2317). A horizontal locking wall 2324 may extendfrom the first portion 2315 of the sidewall 2312 along the nestingregion 2314 with the horizontal locking wall 2324 forming an upperboundary of the notch 2317. The horizontal locking wall 2324 may beoriented generally parallel to the floor 2311. There may be a hole 2319in the floor 2311 of the mounting channel 2310 just below the firstelongated notch 2317, although the hole 2319 may be omitted in someembodiments.

Along the nesting region 2314, the second portion 2316 of the sidewall2312 comprises a second elongated notch 2320 that extends from thetransition location towards the top portion 2309 of the sidewall 2312.The second elongated notch 2320 extends between a bottom edge 2321 ofthe second portion 2316 of the sidewall 2312 along the nesting region2314 of the mounting channel 2310 and the floor 2311 of the mountingchannel 2310. Thus, the bottom edge 2321 of the second portion 2316 ofthe sidewall 2312 along the nesting region 2314 of the mounting channel2310 may be elevated above the floor 2311 of the mounting channel 2310to form a space (i.e., the notch 2318). A horizontal locking wall 2325may extend from the second portion 2316 of the sidewall 2312 along thenesting region 2314 with the horizontal locking wall 2325 forming anupper boundary of the notch 2320. The horizontal locking wall 2325 maybe oriented generally parallel to the floor 2311. There may be a hole2322 in the floor 2311 of the mounting channel 2310 just below thesecond elongated notch 2320, although the hole 2322 may be omitted insome embodiments.

A third notch 2323 may formed into the top portion 2309 of the sidewall2312. The third notch 2323 may extend along a central portion of the topportion 2309 of the sidewall 2312 or along an entirety of the topportion 2309 of the sidewall 2312.

As noted above, the mounting component 2300 is mounted to the article2200 in the same manner as described above with reference to themounting component 300 and the article 200. That is, the mountingcomponent 2300 is inserted into the mounting recess 2210 in the rearsurface 2201 of the article 2200 and then bonded thereto using anbonding agent such as an epoxy, an adhesive, or the like. This processfixedly couples the mounting component(s) 2300 to the article 2200 sothat the mounting components 2300 can engage with the mounting brackets2400 to hang the wall-mountable assembly 2100 on a wall or othersurface.

Referring to FIGS. 14A-14D, the mounting bracket 2400 will be described.The mounting bracket 2400 is similar to the mounting bracket 400described above, except it includes additional tab features which areintended to nest within the first, second, and third notches 2317, 2320,2323 of the mounting component 2300. These tab features prevent thecanted surfaces of the mounting bracket 2400 and mounting component 2300from sliding on each other and prevent the article 2200 from looseningwith directional movement.

The mounting bracket 2400 comprises a front surface 2401, a rear surface2402, a bottom edge 2403, a top edge 2404, a first side edge 2405extending from the bottom edge 2403 to the top edge 2404, and a secondside edge 2406 extending from the bottom edge 2403 to the top edge 2404.The first and second side edges 2405, 2406 may form engagement surfacesof the mounting bracket 2400, similar to the engagement surfaces 410,420 of the mounting bracket 400 described above. The outer surfaces ofthe first and second side edges 2405, 2406 may be canted. Morespecifically, the outer surfaces of the first and second side edges2405, 2406 may be sloped or angled relative to the front and rearsurfaces 2401, 2402. In particular, the outer surfaces of the first andsecond side edges 2405, 2406 may be angled outwardly when moving in adirection from the rear surface 2402 to the front surface 2401. Theangle or slope of the outer surfaces of the first and second side edges2405, 2406 is intended to correspond to the angle or slope of the firstand second portions 2315, 2316 of the sidewall 2312 of the mountingcomponent 2300 along the nesting region 2314 thereof to facilitateengagement between the mounting components 2300 and the mountingbrackets 2400. The first and second side edges 2405, 2406 may also beangled so as to converge moving in a direction from the bottom edge 2403towards the top edge 2402, for at least a portion of the length of thefirst and second side edges 2405, 2406. That is, the first and secondside edges 2405, 2406 may be angled towards one another moving from thebottom edge 2403 towards the top edge 2402

The mounting bracket 2400 may comprise a first tab 2410 protruding fromthe first side edge 2405, a second tab 2411 protruding from the secondside edge 2406, and a third tab 2412 protruding from the top edge 2404.In particular, in the exemplified embodiment the first side edge 2405comprises a canted (or angled) portion 2420 adjacent to the rear surface2402 and a flat portion 2421 adjacent to the front surface 2401.Similarly, the second side edge 2406 comprises a canted (or angled)portion 2422 adjacent to the rear surface 2402 and a flat portion 2423adjacent to the rear surface 2402. The first and second flat portions2421, 2423 may be oriented perpendicular to the front/rear surfaces2401, 2402. The first tab 2410 may protrude from the flat portion 2421of the first side edge 2405 and the second tab 2411 may protrude fromthe flat portion 2423 of the second side edge 2406. The first and secondtabs 2410, 2411 are oriented at an angle that matches the angle of theone of the first and second side edges 2405, 2406 from which it extends.In some embodiments, the flat portions 2421, 2423 may be omitted and thetabs 2410, 2411 may protrude directly from the angled portions 2420,2422.

The mounting bracket 2400 may also comprise an aperture 2430 extendingfrom the front surface 2401 to the rear surface 2402. The aperture 2430may be configured to receive one of the fasteners 2500 for purposes ofmounting the mounting bracket 2400 to a wall or other mounting surface.

FIG. 15 illustrates the wall mounting apparatus 2000 in a fullyassembled state and FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view through thearticle 2200, the mounting component 2300, and the mounting bracket 2400to illustrate the interlocking relationship between the mountingcomponent 2300 and the mounting bracket 2400. First, as noted above, thebonding agent 2450 is illustrated in FIG. 16 filling in the gap betweenthe peripheral edge 2303 of the mounting component 2300 and the innersurface of the article 2200 which defines the mounting recess 2210. Theaspect of the invention has been described in detail above with regardto the wall mounting apparatus 1000 and that description is applicableto the wall mounting apparatus 2000 despite the minor difference incontour/shape of the various components.

As with the prior embodiment, the mounting brackets 2400 are firstmounted onto the wall or other surface upon which the wall-mountableassembly 2100 is to be mounted. The wall-mountable assembly 2100 isassembled by affixing the mounting components 2300 to the article 2200in the manner described herein. The rear surface 2201 of the article2200 is then positioned facing the mounting brackets 2400 and thearticle 2200 is moved towards the mounting brackets 2400 until themounting brackets 2400 nest within the insertion regions 2313 of themounting channels 2310 of the mounting components 2300. Thewall-mountable assembly 2100, which includes the article 2200 and themounting components 2300, are then slid downwardly relative to themounting brackets 2400 which causes the mounting brackets 2400 to slidefrom the insertion region 2313 of the mounting channels 2310 of themounting components 2300 to the nesting region 2314 of the mountingchannels 2310 of the mounting components 2300. Once so positioned, thewall-mountable assembly 2100 is robustly mounted to the wall.

As shown in FIG. 16 , when the wall-mountable assembly 2100 is mountedto the mounting brackets 2400, the outer surfaces of the first andsecond side edges 2405, 2406 of the mounting bracket 2400 abut againstthe first and second portions 2315, 2316 of the sidewall 2312 of themounting component 2300 along the nesting region 2314. Furthermore, thefirst tab 2410 of the mounting bracket 2400 nests within the first notch2317 of the mounting component 2300, the second tab 2411 of the mountingbracket 2400 nests within the second notch 2320 of the mountingcomponent 2300, and the third tab 2412 of the mounting bracket 2400nests within the third notch 2323 in the mounting component 2300. Thethird tab 2412 and third notch 2323 are not shown in FIG. 16 , but theirengagement and relationship should be appreciated from the other figuresand the description set forth herein.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18 , an alternative embodiment of a wallmounting apparatus 3000 is illustrated. The wall mounting apparatus 3000may generally comprise a wall-mountable assembly 3100, one or moremounting brackets 3400, and one or more fasteners 3500. In thisembodiment, the mounting brackets 3400 are identical to the mountingbrackets 2400 and the fasteners 3500 are identical to the fasteners2500. Thus, descriptions of those components will not be provided here,it being understood that reliance on the prior description of theidentical components is applicable

In this embodiment, the wall-mountable assembly 3100 may comprise anarticle 3200, which may be a shelf or ledge or any other item such asthose described with reference to the previous embodiments. The maindifference between this embodiment and those previously described isthat in this embodiment the wall-mountable assembly 3100 does notinclude mounting components which are distinct from the article 3200 andcoupled thereto. Rather, in this embodiment the article 3200 comprises arear surface 3201 comprising a first mounting channel 3210 and a secondmounting channel 3220. The article 3200 may be formed from metal in thisembodiment instead of solid surface material.

In this embodiment, the first and second channels 3210, 3220 have anidentical structure to the mounting channel 2310 of the mountingcomponent 2300. Thus, the idea in this embodiment is that the first andsecond mounting channels 3210, 3220 are formed as an integral part ofthe article 3200, rather than the channels being formed into a separatecomponent which is later attached to the article. The mounting brackets3400 may be configured to be mounted to a wall or other support surface,and to then interlock with features of the first and second mountingchannels 3210, 3220 to facilitate attachment of the article 3200 to themounting brackets 3400 which are mounted on a wall or other supportsurface.

FIGS. 19-21 illustrate yet another embodiment of a wall mountingapparatus 4000. The wall mounting apparatus 4000 may comprise an article4100 for mounting on the wall, one or more mounting components 4200, oneor more attachment brackets 4300, one or more mounting brackets 4400,and one or more fasteners 4500. The article 4100 is illustrated as beinga flat panel, but the invention is not to be so limited. The article4100 may be any article which is desired to be mounted to a wall orother support surface, and may include shelves, ledges, cabinets,mirrors, frames, artistic works, closet systems, and the like, includingany additional types of articles mentioned with reference to thepreviously described embodiments. The article 4100 may be formed fromplywood, medium-density fiberboard, particle board, engineered wood,authentic or non-engineered wood, or the like.

The mounting components 4200 are identical to the mounting components2200 described above and therefore further description of thosecomponents will not be provided here, it being understood that thedescription of the mounting components 2200 is applicable. Similarly,the mounting brackets 4400 are identical to the mounting brackets 2400described above and therefore further description of those componentswill not be provided here, it being understood that the description ofthe mounting components 2400 is applicable. The interaction andengagement between the mounting components 4200 and the mountingbrackets 4400 is the same as described above with reference to themounting components 300 and the mounting brackets 400 and the mountingcomponents 2300 and the mounting brackets. 2400 Finally, the fasteners4500 may be identical to the fasteners 2500 or may take other formsincluding any form noted herein, and therefore further details of thefasteners 4500 may be taken from the description provided above.

The differences between this embodiment and the embodiments previouslydescribed is as follows. First, in this embodiment the article 4100 maynot include a recess within which the mounting component 4200 ispositioned. Rather, the article 4100 may have a planar or flat rearsurface 4101 on which the mounting components 4200 are configured to beattached. The second difference is that addition of the attachmentbrackets 4300. The attachment brackets 4300 may be used to attach themounting components 4200 to the rear surface 4101 of the article 4100.In this embodiment, there is a distinct attachment bracket 4300 for eachmounting component 4200, but in other embodiments one attachment bracket4300 may be used to attach two or more of the mounting components 4200to the article 4100.

The attachment brackets 4300 may be formed from metal (i.e., aluminum,steel, etc.), although other materials may be used such as hard plastic.The attachment brackets 4300 may comprise a plate portion 4310 that isconfigured to abut against the rear surface 4101 of the article 4100when the attachment brackets 4300 are coupled to the article 4101 andone or more flange portions 4320 extending from the plate portion 4310.In the exemplified embodiment, the attachment brackets 4300 are U-shapedhaving three sides, although the invention is not limited by thisspecific shape in all embodiments. The plate portion 4310 comprises aninner edge 4311 and an outer edge 4312 that forms a periphery or outeredge of the attachment bracket 4300. The plate portion 4310 furthercomprises a front surface 4313 and a rear surface 4314. The plateportion 4310 may comprise one or more holes 4315 extending from thefront surface 4313 to the rear surface 4314. Fasteners 4316 such asscrews or the like may be inserted through the one or more holes 4315 tofacilitate the attachment of the attachment brackets 4300 to the rearsurface 4101 of the article 4100. That is with the article 4100 formedfrom a wood material as noted, the fasteners 4316 may be able topenetrate into the article 4100 to secure the attachment of theattachment brackets 4300 to the article 4100. The attachment brackets4300 may be positioned with their rear surfaces 4314 adjacent to or inabutment with the rear surface 4101 of the article 4100.

The flange portions 4320 extend from the inner edge 4311 of the plateportion 4310. In the exemplified embodiment there are three separate andspaced apart flange portions 4320, but in other embodiments a singlecontinuous flange may be used. The flange portions 4320 may extendobliquely upwardly from the inner edge 4311 in a direction away from thefront surface 4313. The angle of the flange portion 4320 may match theangle of the peripheral surface 4203 of the mounting component 4200, asbest shown in FIG. 21 .

The attachment brackets 4300 are coupled to the article 4100 andfunction to securely hold the mounting components 4200 in position onthe rear surface 4101 of the article 4100. First, the mountingcomponents 4200 are positioned into contact with the rear surface 4101of the article 4100. In some embodiments, an adhesive may be positionedbetween the rear surface 4202 of the attachment brackets 4300 and therear surface 4101 of the article 4100. The adhesive may be glue, epoxy,double-sided tape, or the like as desired. The adhesive may be placedonto the rear surface 4302 of the mounting components 4200, the rearsurface 4101 of the article 4100, or both. The adhesive may form atemporary hold between the attachment brackets 4300 and the article4100.

Next, the attachment brackets 4300 may be positioned so that the plateportion 4310 is in contact with the rear surface 4101 of the article4100 and the plate portion 4310 surrounds the mounting components 4200on three sides (although it could be more or less than three sidesdepending on the shape and structure of the attachment bracket 4300).There may be one attachment bracket 4300 used for each mountingcomponent 4200, or a singular attachment bracket 4300 may be sized to beused with multiple mounting components 4200. With the plate portion 4310surrounding the mounting component 4200, the flange portion(s) 4320extend along/adjacent to the peripheral surface 4203 of the mountingcomponents 4200. Due to the angled orientation of the flange portions4320 and the peripheral surface 4203, the mounting components 4200 areprevented from being removed from the article 4100 without firstremoving the attachment brackets 4300 from the article 4100.

Then, a screw or other fastener 4316 is inserted through the opening4315 in the attachment bracket 4300 and into the rear surface 4101 ofthe article 4100 to securely couple the attachment bracket 4300 to thearticle 4100. Because the flange portion(s) 4320 extend over the frontsurface 4201 of the mounting component 4200, the attachment bracket 4300holds the mounting component 4200 in place on the rear surface 4101 ofthe article 4100. In an alternative embodiment, the mounting component4200 may include a plate portion like the plate portion 4310 so that themounting component 4200 can be directly coupled to the article 4100 withfasteners, and in such embodiments the attachment bracket(s) 4300 may beomitted.

As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each andevery value that is within the range. Any value within the range can beselected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references citedherein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. In theevent of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and thatof a cited reference, the present disclosure controls.

While the invention has been described with respect to specific examplesincluding presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variationsand permutations of the above described systems and techniques. It is tobe understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural andfunctional modifications may be made without departing from the scope ofthe present invention. Thus, the spirit and scope of the inventionshould be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.

1. A wall mounting apparatus comprising: an article comprising a rearsurface having at least one recess defined by a floor and a sidewallthat extends from the floor to the rear surface; a mounting componentcomprising a front surface having a mounting channel, a rear surface,and a peripheral surface extending between the front and rear surfaces;and a mounting bracket configured to be mounted to a wall; wherein themounting component is positioned in the recess of the article with therear surface of the mounting component facing the floor of the recess,and wherein the mounting component is bonded to the article with abonding agent disposed between the peripheral surface of the mountingcomponent and the sidewall of the recess of the article; and wherein thearticle is configured to be mounted to the wall via sliding engagementbetween the article and the mounting bracket while the mounting bracketis mounted to the wall and at least partially located within themounting channel of the mounting component.
 2. The wall mountingapparatus according to claim 1 wherein the article is formed from abrittle material. 3.-5. (canceled)
 6. The wall mounting apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein there is no bonding agent between the rearsurface of the mounting component and the floor of the recess of thearticle.
 7. (canceled)
 8. The wall mounting apparatus according to claim1 wherein the mounting channel comprises a longitudinal axis, whereinthe mounting channel is bounded by a sidewall, a first portion of thesidewall located on a first side of the longitudinal axis and a secondportion of the sidewall located on a second side of the longitudinalaxis being angled inwardly towards the longitudinal axis moving in adirection from the rear surface of the mounting component towards thefront surface of the mounting component.
 9. The wall mounting apparatusaccording to claim 8 wherein the mounting bracket comprises a firstengagement surface that mates with the first portion of the sidewall ofthe mounting channel of the mounting component and a second engagementsurface that mates with the second portion of the sidewall of themounting channel of the mounting component to couple the mountingcomponent to the mounting bracket and prevent movement of the article ina direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis without first slidingthe article relative to the mounting bracket to disengage the first andsecond engagement surfaces of the mounting bracket from the first andsecond portions of the sidewall of the mounting channel of the mountingcomponent.
 10. The wall mounting apparatus according to claim 9 whereinthe mounting bracket comprises a longitudinal axis, a rear surface thatis configured to face the wall when the mounting bracket is mounted tothe wall, and a front surface opposite the rear surface, and wherein thefirst and second engagement surfaces are angled inwardly towards thelongitudinal axis moving in a direction from the front surface towardsthe rear surface.
 11. The wall mounting apparatus according to claim 10wherein the first and second portions of the sidewall of the mountingchannel of the mounting component are angled towards the longitudinalaxis moving in a direction from a bottom end of the mounting componentto a top end of the mounting component, and wherein the first and secondengagement surfaces of the mounting bracket are angled so as to convergetowards one another moving from a bottom end of the mounting bracket toa top end of the mounting bracket.
 12. The wall mounting apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein the mounting bracket comprises a bottomsurface, a top surface, a longitudinal axis extending between the bottomand top surfaces, a rear surface that faces the wall when the mountingbracket is mounted to the wall, a front surface opposite the rearsurface, and first and second engagement surfaces that are configured tomate with the mounting component when the mounting component is coupledto the mounting bracket, the first and second engagement surfaces beingangled inwardly towards the longitudinal axis moving in a direction fromthe front surface of the mounting bracket towards the rear surface ofthe mounting bracket and wherein the first and second engagementsurfaces are angled towards the longitudinal axis moving from the bottomsurface of the mounting bracket towards the top surface of the mountingbracket.
 13. The wall mounting apparatus according to claim 1 whereinthe peripheral surface of the mounting component is beveled. 14.(canceled)
 15. The wall mounting apparatus according to claim 1 furthercomprising: the mounting channel comprises a longitudinal axis, themounting channel being bounded by a sidewall having a first portionlocated on a first side of the longitudinal axis and a second portionlocated on a second side of the longitudinal axis, the mounting channelcomprising an insertion region and a nesting region, and wherein alongthe nesting region the first and second portions of the sidewall arecanted, and wherein within the nesting region the first portion of thesidewall comprises a first notch and the second portion of the sidewallcomprises a second notch; the mounting bracket comprising a first sideedge and a second side edge that are canted, a first tab protruding fromthe first side edge and a second tab protruding from the second sideedge; and wherein when the mounting bracket nests within the nestingregion of the mounting channel of the mounting component, the first sideedge of the mounting bracket abuts the first portion of the sidewall ofthe mounting channel and the first tab nests within the first notch andthe second side edge of the mounting bracket abuts the second portion ofthe sidewall of the mounting channel and the second tab nests within thesecond notch.
 16. The wall mounting apparatus according to claim 15further comprising: the sidewall of the mounting component comprising atop portion that forms a top boundary of the mounting channel, a thirdnotch being formed into the top portion of the sidewall of the mountingcomponent; the mounting bracket comprising a top edge, a third tabprotruding from the top edge; and wherein when the mounting bracketnests within the nesting region of the mounting channel of the mountingcomponent, the top edge of the mounting bracket abuts the top portion ofthe sidewall of the mounting component and the third tab nests withinthe third notch. 17.-30. (canceled)
 31. A wall mounting apparatuscomprising: a wall-mountable assembly comprising: an article formed froma brittle material and comprising a rear surface having at least onerecess defined by a floor and a sidewall that extends from the floor tothe rear surface; a mounting component formed from a metal or a plasticand comprising a front surface having a mounting channel, a rearsurface, and a peripheral surface extending between the front and rearsurfaces, wherein the mounting component is positioned within the recessof the article so that the rear surface of the mounting component abutsthe floor of the recess of the article and a gap exists between theperipheral surface of the mounting component and the sidewall of therecess of the article; and a bonding agent disposed within the gap andbonded to at least one of the peripheral surface of the mountingcomponent and the sidewall of the recess of the article to fixedlycouple the mounting component to the article; a mounting bracketconfigured to be mounted to a wall; and wherein the wall-mountableassembly is mounted to the mounting bracket via sliding engagementbetween the mounting component and the mounting bracket while themounting bracket is at least partially located within the mountingchannel of the mounting component. 32.-35. (canceled)
 36. An apparatusfor mounting an article to a support surface, the apparatus comprising:a mounting bracket comprising a front surface, a rear surface, a bottomend, a top end, a first side surface extending at least partiallybetween the top and bottom ends, and a second side surface extending atleast partially between the top and bottom ends, the first and secondside surfaces being angled so as to converge towards one another movingin a direction from the bottom end of the mounting bracket towards thetop end of the mounting bracket, and the first side surface comprising afirst engagement portion and the second side surface comprising a secondengagement portion, the first and second engagement portions beingbeveled so as to slope outwardly moving in a direction from the rearsurface of the mounting bracket towards the front surface of themounting bracket, wherein the mounting bracket is configured to becoupled to a support surface with the rear surface of the mountingbracket facing the support surface; a mounting component comprising afront surface, a rear surface, a bottom end, a top end, and a mountingchannel in the front surface, the mounting channel having a longitudinalaxis and being at least partially bounded by a sidewall, the sidewallcomprising a first sidewall portion located on a first side of thelongitudinal axis and a second sidewall portion located on a second sideof the longitudinal axis, the first and second sidewall portions beingangled so as to converge towards one another moving in a direction fromthe bottom end of the mounting component towards the top end of themounting component, and the first and second sidewall portions slopingin a direction away from the longitudinal axis moving from the frontsurface of the mounting component to the rear surface of the mountingcomponent; and wherein the mounting bracket is configured to be coupledto the mounting component with the mounting bracket at least partiallypositioned within the mounting channel of the mounting component and thefirst and second engagement portions of the first and second sidesurfaces of the mounting bracket engaged with the first and secondsidewall portions of the mounting component.
 37. The apparatus accordingto claim 36 wherein the mounting channel comprises a floor, wherein thefirst sidewall portion extends from the front surface of the mountingcomponent to a first lower edge and the second sidewall portion extendsfrom the front surface of the mounting component to a second lower edge,and further comprising a first horizontal locking wall extending fromthe first lower edge of the first sidewall portion in a direction awayfrom the longitudinal axis and a second horizontal locking wallextending from the second lower edge of the second sidewall portion in adirection away from the longitudinal axis, and wherein the first andsecond horizontal locking walls are elevated relative to the floor ofthe mounting channel so that a first notch is formed between the firsthorizontal locking wall and the floor of the mounting channel and asecond notch is formed between the second horizontal locking wall andthe floor of the mounting channel
 38. The apparatus according to claim37 wherein the mounting bracket comprises a first locking tab extendingfrom the first side surface and a second locking tab extending from thesecond side surface, wherein the first locking tab nests within thefirst notch and the second locking tab nests within the second notchwhen the mounting bracket is coupled to the mounting component.
 39. Theapparatus according to claim 38 wherein the floor of the mountingchannel comprises a first through hole aligned with the first notch anda second through hole aligned with the second notch.
 40. The apparatusaccording to claim 38 wherein the mounting bracket further comprises athird locking tab extending from the top end of the mounting bracket,and wherein the mounting channel of the mounting component is furtherbounded by a top wall comprising a third notch, and wherein the thirdlocking tab of the mounting bracket nests within the third notch whenthe mounting bracket is coupled to the mounting component.
 41. Theapparatus according to claim 38 wherein the first side surface of themounting bracket comprises the first engagement portion that is beveledand a first flat portion that is not beveled, wherein the second sidesurface of the mounting bracket comprises the second engagement portionthat is beveled and a second flat portion that is not beveled, andwherein the first locking tab extends from the first flat portion of thefirst side surface and wherein the second locking tab extends from thesecond flat portion of the second side surface.
 42. The apparatusaccording to claim 41 wherein the first engagement portion extends fromthe rear surface of the mounting bracket to the first flat portion andthe first flat portion extends from the front surface of the mountingbracket to the first engagement portion, and wherein the secondengagement portion extends from the rear surface of the mounting bracketto the second flat portion and the second flat portion extends from thefront surface of the mounting bracket to the second engagement portion.43. The apparatus according to claim 36 further comprising an aperturein the mounting bracket that extends from the front surface of themounting bracket to the rear surface of the mounting bracket to receivea fastener for coupling the mounting bracket to the support surface.